Plural panel door assembly

ABSTRACT

A door assembly including a plurality of panels pivotally interconnecred with a free end panel pivoted about a fixed axis adjacent one edge of an opening and the opposite end panel having guide means received in an elongated track located along an adjacent edge of the opening. The assembly further includes means adjacent the pivot axis for receiving the guide means when the door is in an open position wherein the panels are in overlapping relation and accommodating pivotal movement of the panels about said axis from the open position to a further position where the panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to the elongated track and are positioned beyond the opening.

United States Patent Swanson et al.

[54] PLURAL PANEL DOOR ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Forrest V. Swanson, Wausau; Raymond N. Sellon, Jr., Sussex, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: J. l. Case Company [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 95,850

[52] 0.8. C] ..l60/206 [51] Int. Cl. ..Ed 15/26 [58] Field of Search ..l60/206, 199, l 18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,144,077 8/1964 Dickinson et a1 1 60/206 1,243,499 10/1917 Ferris ..160/l99 3,029,868 4/1962 Qgburn et al. ..l60/206 X 3,138,474 6/1964 Reiss et al ..l60/206 3,692,083 1 1 Sept. 19, 1972 Attorney-Dressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon [5 7] ABSTRACT A door assembly including a plurality of panels pivotally interconnected with a free end panel pivoted about a fixed axis adjacent one edge of an opening and the opposite end panel having guide means received in an elongated track located along an adjacent edge of the opening. The assembly further includes means adjacent the pivot axis for receiving the guide means when the door is in an open position wherein the panels are in overlapping relation and accommodating pivotal movement of the panels about said axis from the open position to a further position where the panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to the elongated track and are positioned beyond the opening.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 4 may PATENTEDSEHS m2 3.692.083

sum 2 or 2 FIG; 5 Q j ll 72 54 I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to door assemblies and more particularly to an improved door assembly of the plural panel, pivotally interconnected type.

The use of doors consisting of a plurality of small panels having adjacent ends pivotally interconnected has been common in various industries. For example, most residences now include bi-fold paneled door assemblies for closing the access openings to various locations such as closets, pantries, and the like. The use of such assemblies considerably reduces the amount of space adjacent the access opening which is necessary to accommodate movement of the door assembly from the closed to an open position. For example, when using a bi-fold door having two panels interconnected, the panels are located in an end-to-end relation when the door is in a closed position and are in an overlapping relation when the door is in the open position. This means that only one-half the space adjacent the opening is needed as compared to a unitary door structure where the adjacent space must be equal to the full width of the opening.

In some cases it is undesirable to have the door as semblies extend perpendicular to the wall when the door is in an open condition. One arrangement for overcoming this problem is to extend the track beyond the length required for normally moving the door panels to an open condition and configuring the track extension so that the door guide in the track is moved outside of the opening so that the panels are in overlapping relation to each other and are substantially flush with the surface of the wall.

While such an arrangement has been found satisfactory in many instances for locating the door panel substantially flush and parallel to the vertical surface of the wall surrounding the opening, some installations of bifold doors'restrict the nature and amount of projection which can extend beyond the vertical surface of the wall in which the access opening is located.

For example, one place where bi-fold doors have been used rather extensively in recent years is in cab structures for agricultural or construction vehicles. In many instances, these vehicles are constructed and designed to meet limitations regarding width and height for highway transportation. In most instances, large or heavy duty vehicles for construction or agricultural equipment, such as heavy duty cranes, the cab structure width and height is just equal to the maximum dimension for highway transportation. Thus, if it were desired to have a bi-fold door assembly which were to be folded in a flush relation and which would utilize a track extension arrangement, the cab assembly would have to be completely redesigned and the width thereof reduced so as to place the track extension within the maximum width limitations imposed for highway transport vehicles.

Thus, there remains a need for a simple expedient for moving a door assembly to a flush relationship relative to the surrounding cab structure and which can be incorporated into existing structures.

SUMMARY OF THE'INVENTION The present invention contemplates a door assembly for use with a cab structure of a vehicle and in which the door assembly is of the plural panel hinged type and is movable to an open position wherein the'panels are located in a flush relation with the outer surface of the cabstructure and in which there are no elements of the door structure extending beyond the vertical outer surface of the cab structure when the door is in the closed position.

The door assembly includes a door having at least two panels pivotally interconnected for closing the opening. The door has one free end panel pivotally supported about a fixed pivot axis and has guide means on the free end of another of the panels with the guide means received in an elongated track extending along another edge of the opening. The door assembly further includes means on the pivot axis for receiving the guide meanswhen the door is in an open position and accommodating pivotal movement of the panels from an open overlapping position where the door panels extend perpendicular to the elongated track to a further position where the panels are substantially parallel to the outer surface of the adjacent wall structure.

More specifically, the means for accommodating pivotal movement of the door panels includes a keeper having one endpivoted adjacent the pivot axis for the door and a free end having a recess with biasing means normally maintaining the keeper in a first position where therecess is aligned with the end of the track. The biasing means accommodates pivotal movement of the keeper from its first position, after. having received the guide on the door, to a second position where the respective door panels are moved from a substantially perpendicular open position to a third position substantially parallel to the surface of the wall while the panels remain in an overlapping condition.

According to another aspect of the invention, the biasing means performs a second function of maintaining the guide in the recess and the door panels in a collapsed condition while the door is pivoted between the open and third positions and also performs a third function of blocking the open end of the track to prevent accidental movement of the guide out of the track. By having the biasing means located in the path of the opening in the track, an additional force must be applied to the free end of the door in order to move the guide from the track into the recess: on the keeper.

In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing means is in the form of a coil spring having a plurality of coils and at least one arm extending fromone free end of the coils. The arm has an arcuate portion adjacent the free end thereof for receiving a portion of the guide or pin and also has an angularly related end portion which is located in the end of the track and guides the pin from the track to the recess in the keeper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vehicle including cab having the door assembly of the present invention incorporated therein; I

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of the upper portion of the cab;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view similar to FIG. 2 showing the keeper mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown a vehicle, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. For illustrative purposes, the vehicle is a heavy duty crane of the self-propelled type and including a crane assembly 12 supported on a frame structure 14 through a turntable 16 with the frame 14 being supported on wheels 18. A cab 20 is located on the turntable and houses the various controls for actuation of the crane as well as transportation of the self-propelled vehicle from one jobsight to another.

Access to the cab 20 is gained through an access opening 22 (FIG. 2) defined in a vertical wall or side 24 of the cab and the access opening is normally closed by a door 26. The door 26 is of the plural panel or bi-fold type in which a first panel 26a is pivoted about a vertical fixed pivot axis defined by hinges 28 (only one being shown) and a second panel 26b has one vertical edge thereof pivotally interconnected with the first panel by a hinge 37 (FIG. 4).

The door assembly further includes a track 30 extending horizontally along the upper edge of the opening 22 and the free end of the panel 26b has a guide pin 32 received in the track. In the closed position, the panels 26a and 26b are in substantially end-to-end relation and extend parallel to the track 30 to thereby close the opening 22. The door 26 is moved to an open position by grasping a handle 36 located adjacent the pivotal interconnection 37 between the two panels 26a and 26b to move the panels from a substantially end-toend position to an overlapping position, shown in the solid line in FIG. 4. In the open or second position, the respective panels 26a and 26b are located substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track 30 and thus extend a substantial distance outwardly of the outer surface of the wall 24.

According to the present invention, the door assembly further includes means 40 for receiving the guide pin or means 32, when the door is in the second or solid line position of FIG. 4, and accommodating pivotal movement of the door to a third position substantially flush with the outer surface of the wall 24. The means for accomplishing this is located within confines of the normal door assembly structure so that no additional obstructions extend beyond the pivoted door assembly. In addition, the means positively guides and holds the door in a fixed relation while the guide means is removed from the associated track.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the means 40 includes a keeper 42 which has a pin 44 fixedly secured to one end thereof, as by welding. The pin 44 is received in an opening 46 which is defined on a bracket 48, fixedly secured to the cab wall 24 by bolts 50. An inspection of FIG. 4 shows that the opening 46 and the pin 44 are located on the fixed pivot axis defined by the hinge structure 28.

The opposite end of the keeper or lever 42 has a recess 52 and is biased to a first position (shown by the solid lines of FIG. 4) by biasing means, generally designated at 54. An intermediate portion of the biasing means cooperates with a pin 56 extending from an intermediate portion of the keeper 42 so as to normally maintain the recess 52 aligned with the adjacent open end of the track 30. An inspection of FIG. 3 and 4 shows that one end 58 of the track 30 terminates at a location spaced from the pivot axis 28 and the keeper 42 traverses substantially the entire distance between the free end 58 of the track 30 and the pivot axis 28.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the means 40 further includes means for maintaining the guide pin or means 32 in the recess 52 while the keeper is being pivoted about its fixed pivot axis. To simplify the construction, this latter means is incorporated into the biasing means for maintaining the keeper 42 in its first position. Thus, the biasing means 54 includes a plurality of coils 60 with a finger 62 extending from one end of the coil arrangement and fixedly secured to the hub having the opening 46 therein. The coils 60 are loosely supported on the pin 44 and the opposite end thereof has an arm or finger 66 extending therefrom with an intermediate portion cooperating with the pin 56.to maintain the keeper 42 in its first position. The arm or finger 66 extends beyond the pin 56 and has an arcuate portion 68 adjacent the end thereof and the arcuate portion is aligned with a portion of the recess 52 on the keeper 42. The arm or finger 66 further includes an angularly related end portion 72 which is located below the track 30 (see FIG. 3) and acts as a means for blocking the adjacent end of the track 30 when the keeper is in the first position and as a camming surface for guiding the pin 32 from the track 30 into the recess 52.

The operation of the keeper assembly is believed to be understood from the above description but will be summarized at this point. For a normal operation of the door between the closed and open positions, where the panels 26a and 26b are respectively in an end-to-end position and in an overlapping position, the latter position having the panels extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track, the handle 36 is grasped by the operator and a pivotal force is applied to the panel 26aAs the door approaches the fully open position, the pin or guide means 32 engages the angularly related portion 72 of the spring arm 66 so as to prevent accidental movement of the pin out of the track. However, if the operator desires to move the door from the solid line open position shown in FIG. 4 to the right-hand dotted line or third position shown in FIG. 4, the application of additional pivotal force to the door about the axis 28 will cause the guide 32 to be cammed along the camming surface defined by the angularly related end portion 72 thereby moving the spring arm from its normal position. The spring arm 66 will be pivoted slightly in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, about the pivot axis defined by pin 44, to allow the guide means 32 to move into the recess 52. Once the guide means 32 is properly located in the recess 52, the arcuate portion 68 of the spring arm of biasing means 54 will encompass a por- BEST AVAILABLE COPY tion of the guide means iii to positively hold the guide means within the recess iii in the keeper iii. tlontinuod application of force rightward, as viewed in l ltl. ll, to the outer and of the door panels will cause the entire door panel assembly as well as the keeper to he pivoted shout the fixed pivot axis fill thereby moving the door panels lids and iitilb from their solid line open or second position shown in FIG. d to a dotted line position h of hit}. d where the panels Ma and lid?) are in substantially overlapping relation to each other and are located substantially parallel to the elongated track Bill as well as the outer surface of the wall 2d having the opening 23?. therein. The door assembly may be held in the third position by suitable releasable latch means hi) which has been schematically illustrated since any type of latch mechanism may be utilized.

It should be noted that as the door is moved from the second or solid line position to the third or dotted position 1? of FIG. d, the arm 62 of the spring will remain in a fixed position while the arm or finger as will be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction about pin dd thereby increasing the spring force ofthe spring on the keeper M to a maximum when the keeper is in the dotted line position of FIG. d. This arrangement is as: vantageous since the increased biasing force when the door assembly is in its third position will automatically cause the door to move to its second position when the latch mechanism 80 is released.

' It will be appreciated that the novel spring arrangement simultaneously performs the function of normally maintaining the guide means 32 within the track 30; maintaining the keeper in its first position during normal operation of the door assembly; automatically maintaining the guide means within the recess 52 when the door is moved beyond the second position; and maintaining a fixed position between the keeper and the door panels as the door is moved from the second to the third position. All of this is accomplished with a simple spring construction that can readily be constructed at a minimum cost. In fact the entire keeper assembly requires a minimum number of parts and can readily be incorporated into existing bi-fold door assemblies with minimum modification.

While the door assembly has been shown as being supported on a single track above the door, it will be appreciated that as second track could be used adjacent the lower edge of the door and, if desired, a second keeper assembly 42, 54 could be incorporated into the lower track. Also, the door could be supported for vertical movement by one or two tracks.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door assembly including an elongated fixed track; a door having at least two panels pivotally interalong;

connected; means for pivotally supporting one end of I one of said panels about a fixed pivot axis extending perpendicular to said elongated track adjacent one end of said track; and guide means on another of said panels, said guide means being received in said track and guiding said panels from a closed end-to-end position substantially parallel to said track to an open position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially perpendicular to said track, the improvement of pivotal means on said pivot axis for l receiving said guide means when said door is in said open position, and (2) accommodating pivotal movelllilil ill rnont oi said plinolsironi said open position to n third position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to said elongated track, said pivotal moons allowing; said guide means to he moved from said trnoli during movement of the door to the third position.

ii. In n door assembly including an elongated truck; a door having at least two panels pivotally inter-con nected; means for pivotally supporting one end of one of said panels about a fixed pivot axis extending perpendicular to said elongated track adjacentone end of said track; and guide means on another of said panels, said guide means being received in said track and guiding said panels from a closed end-to-end position substantially parallel to said track to an open position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially perpendicular to said track, the improvement of means on said pivot axis for 1 receiving said guide means when said door is in said open position, and (2) accommodating pivotal movement of said panels from said open position 'toa third position where said panels are inoverlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to said elongated track, said last means including a keeper pivoted on said pivot axis, said keeper having a portion normally aligned with an adjacent end of said track.

3. A door assembly as defined in claim 2, in which said last means includes biasing means maintaining said portion aligned with said track as said door is moved between closed andopen positions.

4. A door assembly as defined in claim 3, in which said biasing means further maintains said guide means in a fixed position on said keeper during movement between said open and third positions.

5. A door assembly as defined in claim 4, in which said biasing means includes a spring having one end secured in fixed relation adjacent said pivot axis, said spring having an opposite end aligned with and normally blocking an opening on said adjacent end of said track, said spring having an intermediate portion cooperating with said keeper to keep said portion of said keeper aligned with said track.

6. in a door assembly including an elongated track; a door having at least two panels pivotally interconnected; means for pivotally supporting one end of one of said panels about a fixed pivot axis extending perpendicular to said elongated track adjacent one end of said track; and guide means on another of said panels, said guide means being received in :said track and guiding said panels from a closed end-to-end position substantially parallel to said track to an open position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially perpendicular to said track, the improvement of means on said pivot axis for 1) receiving said guide means when said door is in said open position, and (2) accommodating pivotal movement of said panels from said open position to a third position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to said elongated track, said last means including a keeper having one end pivoted on said axis and an opposite end having a recess for receiving said guide means; and biasing means normally maintaining said keeper in a first position with said recess aligned with said track.

7. A door assembly as defined in claim 6, further ineluding means for maintaining said guide means in said recess while said keeper is pivoted about said axis.

8. A door assembly as defined in claim 7, in which said biasing means includes a spring having an arm extending from said pivot axis toward said track and engaging said keeper at a location spaced from said track, and said last means defines an arcuate portion adjacent the free end of said arm for encompassing a portion of said guide means when said guide means is in said recess.

9. A door assembly as defined in claim 8, in which said spring includes an end portion on the free end of said arm for blocking the adjacent end of said track when said keeper is in said first position.

10. In a door supported in an opening and having a plurality of panels pivotally interconnected with one end panel pivoted about a fixed pivot axis adjacent one edge of said opening and another panel having a guide fixed thereto; and an elongated fixed track extending perpendicular to said fixed pivot axis and receiving said guide for movement along said track so that said panels are in a substantially end-to-end position aligned with said track when said door is in a closed position and extend substantially perpendicular to said track when said door is in an open position, the improvement of a keeper pivoted adjacent said axis and having a recess on a free end thereof for receiving said guide; and biasing means normally maintaining said keeper in a first position with said recess aligned with said track, said biasing means accommodating pivotal movement of said door beyond said open position to a position where said panels are substantially parallel to said track.

1 l. A door as defined in claim 10, in which said biasing means includes an end portion cooperating with said recess to maintain said guide in said recess, said end portion further including a camming member normally blocking an open end of said track.

12. A door as defined in claim 1 1, in which said track extends horizontally along an upper edge of said opening and said pivot axis is located along a vertical edge of said opening.

13. A door as defined in claim 11, and further including a vehicle cab having sides with said opening defined in one of said sides.

0 l t l 

1. In a door assembly including an elongated fixed track; a door having at least two panels pivotally interconnected; means for pivotally supporting one end of one of said panels about a fixed pivot axis extending perpendicular to said elongated track adjacent one end of said track; and guide means on another of said panels, said guide means being received in said track and guiding said panels from a closed end-to-end position substantially parallel to said track to an open position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially perpendicular to said track, the improvement of pivotal means on said pivot axis for (1) receiving said guide means when said door is in said open position, and (2) accommodating pivotal movement of said panels from said open position to a third position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to said elongated track, said pivotal means allowing said guide means to be moved from said track during movement of the door to the third position.
 2. In a door assembly including an elongated track; a door having at least two panels pivotally interconnected; means for pivotally supporting one end of one of said panels about a fixed pivot axis extending perpendicular to said elongated track adjacent one end of said track; and guide means on another of said panels, said guide means being received in said track and guiding said panels from a closed end-to-end position substantially parallel to said track to an open position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially perpendicular to said track, the improvement of means on said pivot axis for (1) receiving said guide means when said door is in said open position, and (2) accommodating pivotal movement of said panels from said open position to a third position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to said elongated track, said last means including a keeper pivoted on said pivot axis, said keeper having a portion normally aligned with an adjacent end of said track.
 3. A door assembly as defined in claim 2, in which said last means includes biasing means maintaining said portion aligned with said track as said door is moved between closed and open positions.
 4. A door assembly as defined in claim 3, in which said biasing means further maintains said guide means in a fixed position on said keeper during movement between said open and third positions.
 5. A door assembly as defined in claim 4, in which said biasing means includes a spring having one end secured in fixed relation adjacent said pivot axis, said spring having an opposite end aligned with and normally blocking an opening on said adjacent end of said track, said spring having an intermediate portion cooperating with said keeper to keep said portion of said keepEr aligned with said track.
 6. In a door assembly including an elongated track; a door having at least two panels pivotally interconnected; means for pivotally supporting one end of one of said panels about a fixed pivot axis extending perpendicular to said elongated track adjacent one end of said track; and guide means on another of said panels, said guide means being received in said track and guiding said panels from a closed end-to-end position substantially parallel to said track to an open position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially perpendicular to said track, the improvement of means on said pivot axis for (1) receiving said guide means when said door is in said open position, and (2) accommodating pivotal movement of said panels from said open position to a third position where said panels are in overlapping relation and extend substantially parallel to said elongated track, said last means including a keeper having one end pivoted on said axis and an opposite end having a recess for receiving said guide means; and biasing means normally maintaining said keeper in a first position with said recess aligned with said track.
 7. A door assembly as defined in claim 6, further including means for maintaining said guide means in said recess while said keeper is pivoted about said axis.
 8. A door assembly as defined in claim 7, in which said biasing means includes a spring having an arm extending from said pivot axis toward said track and engaging said keeper at a location spaced from said track, and said last means defines an arcuate portion adjacent the free end of said arm for encompassing a portion of said guide means when said guide means is in said recess.
 9. A door assembly as defined in claim 8, in which said spring includes an end portion on the free end of said arm for blocking the adjacent end of said track when said keeper is in said first position.
 10. In a door supported in an opening and having a plurality of panels pivotally interconnected with one end panel pivoted about a fixed pivot axis adjacent one edge of said opening and another panel having a guide fixed thereto; and an elongated fixed track extending perpendicular to said fixed pivot axis and receiving said guide for movement along said track so that said panels are in a substantially end-to-end position aligned with said track when said door is in a closed position and extend substantially perpendicular to said track when said door is in an open position, the improvement of a keeper pivoted adjacent said axis and having a recess on a free end thereof for receiving said guide; and biasing means normally maintaining said keeper in a first position with said recess aligned with said track, said biasing means accommodating pivotal movement of said door beyond said open position to a position where said panels are substantially parallel to said track.
 11. A door as defined in claim 10, in which said biasing means includes an end portion cooperating with said recess to maintain said guide in said recess, said end portion further including a camming member normally blocking an open end of said track.
 12. A door as defined in claim 11, in which said track extends horizontally along an upper edge of said opening and said pivot axis is located along a vertical edge of said opening.
 13. A door as defined in claim 11, and further including a vehicle cab having sides with said opening defined in one of said sides. 